Human behavior, if you'll take the time to notice, breaks this easiest route rule - we do things in very inefficient ways, most of the times failing to take the shortest route between beginning (of a project) and its end. In essence we violate the Principle of Least Action. — Agent Smith
Yes, we behave inefficiently very frequently. BUT we have reasons for those behaviors. They may not be very good reasons, but they are reasons and thus, it's not "free" will in the traditional conception of the phrase — Artemis
The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. — Math
The shortest distance between two points is a smooth curve. — Humans
If I choose to, I needn't travel along a straight line from point A to point B. — Agent Smith
No, but you will from point A to point A.1. A smooth curve is a series of infinite straight lines. You were never headed to point B, you were going to point A.1 first. — Monitor
Since deterministic systems have to adhere to the Principle of Least Action and humans consistently violate this principle, is this free will? — Agent Smith
Humans, it appears, can defy mathematical laws/principles. If I choose to, I needn't travel along a straight line from point A to point B. — Agent Smith
Wouldn't that describe that math forced your choice? e.g I chose to not walk straight because of math. — john27
Any deviation from linearity, in my humble opinion, can't be mathematical. — Agent Smith
All I can say is human beings seem to violate some mathematical principle reducible to linearity (straigth lines). — Agent Smith
Human behavior, if you'll take the time to notice, breaks this easiest route rule - we do things in very inefficient ways, most of the times failing to take the shortest route between beginning (of a project) and its end. In essence we violate the Principle of Least Action. — Agent Smith
As such, humans always make decisions in partial ignorance, leading (deterministically) to a high probability of suboptimal choices — Kenosha Kid
I'm pretty sure if you fire a human from a trebuchet, they will follow the path given by the principle of least action — Kenosha Kid
But wouldn't a human's partial ignorance be funded by his free will? — john27
Is she subject to the principle — Raymond
After the launch friction will influence the motion, so the principle is not applicable anymore, as only conservative forces are implied. — Raymond
I just can't see mechanistic domino effects producing symphonies or the works of Shakespeare.
I'm convinced! — Yohan
None of which suggests that failure to obey the principle of least action is free will: indeed, you've just cited examples of its violation that are deterministic. — Kenosha Kid
Does ethics make scientific/mathematical sense? — Agent Smith
Get involved in philosophical discussions about knowledge, truth, language, consciousness, science, politics, religion, logic and mathematics, art, history, and lots more. No ads, no clutter, and very little agreement — just fascinating conversations.